Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-07-07
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
TRAVELLERS NOTES WHILE IN
THE HAWAIIAN GROUP.


Names and Area of the Principal
Islands-Delightful Climate and Rich
soiI-IndoIent People and Their Social
! Customs-Food Products.
The Hawaiian islands are the most ocean
isolated portion of the inhabited globe They
constitute group of eight inhabited and four
uninhabited islands. They are situated In
the Pacific ocean in latitude 70 degs- TO 20
degs north, and longitude 155 degs. TO l6O
degs west From Honolulu, the capital and
principal city of the group, located on the
island of Oahu, the distance to San Francisco
Gin round numbers is 2, 100 miles; to Yoko-
-homa, Japan, 3.4O0; to Hong Kong, China,
1900, and to Sydney, Australia, 4,5O0
The names and area of the inhabited islands
are Hawaii, 4,2O0 square miles; Maui, 760;
Ouhu, 900; Kauai, $50; Molokai, go; Lauai,
$50; Kahoolawe, 63, and Nihau, 97-HawaI
being nearly double the srea Of all the other
islands combined They are clearly volcanic
IN their origin, the most western island, in the
opinion of geologists, having been first thrown
up, then the one next east of it, and, follow
ing in order, to Hawaii, the most eastern,
which is to-day in an unfinished state, power
full volcanic forces being still actively at work
there.
Though within the torrid cone, the climate
is temperate rather than tropical / am told
there is no word in the native language ex-
pressive of the idea of weather, evidence that
extremes of heat and cold are unknown.
During ten years at Honolulu the highest and
lowest temperatures in the shade, according
topublished official record, were go degs. and
53 degs, the greatest change within twenty
four hours being 10 degs. As the islands are
mountainous, rising in the interior to an
elevation of 5000, 5000, 1900, and Mauna
Kea in Hawaii to Il, 600 feet, every kind Of
climate may be found. from that of perpetual
summer to that of eternal winter. The trade
winds blow nine months of the year, temper
ing the heat and imparting freshness and
salubrity to the atmosphere Of the lowlands
along the coast. The climate is claimed to be
very healthful. There are heavy rainfalls
during certain months of the year-much
heavier on the windward than on the leeward
side of the islands At Hilo on the east coast
of Hawaii, it is said eighteen feet of rain have
fallen in a single year.
The soil is decomposed lava and sand, and
is generally thin and poor. In the valleys
and plains along the base of the mountains,
whose disintegration and accumulation Of
vegetable mold have gone on for ages, there
are tracts of great fertility. Here the sugar
cane fourishes, and extensive plantations are
devoted exclusively to its growth. The sugar
industry is the principal agricultural interest
of the islands, rice standing second. Fine
pasturage is abundant, and large herds of
cattle, horses, sheep and goats are bred and
fattened in the upland valleys. On the
higher slopes of Hawaii wild horses, cattlG
and hogs abourrd, and here adventurous
sportsmen find occupation and excitement IN
hunting them. These horses and cattle are
the descendants of those brought here by
Europeans, which from time TO time have es-
capped, end have rapidly multiplied; but the
hogs ere indigenous. There are extensive
forest but the most valuable timber. sandal
wood, once abundant, has become almost en-
tirely exhausted. Fruits of great variety and
excellence grow spontaneously. Among these
arc the banana, plantain, cocoanut, candle
NIT, bread fruit, guava, pineapple, orange,
lymon, lime, mango, papia and many Others.
Sweet potatoes, yams, beans, peas and other
garden vegetables flourish. Strawberries are
plentiful and cheap. We have had them
served on our table every morning during the
ten weeks we have been here.
The most important articles of food for the
natives is taro. 1t is tuber resembling some
what In form the beet. 1t grows in both dry
and wet soil, is very prolific, is prepared for
table in a variety of ways, and is the staple
food for all classes. From it is made the ma
tional dish, par excellence, poi, which consti-
tutes fully four-fifths the support of the Haw-
aiians. 1t is said that forty feet square Of
land planted with taro will afford subsistence
ior one person whole year; and square
Tile will feed II, ,427 persons the same length
Of time.
The Hawaiians belong to the Malayo-Poly-
nesian race. They are of light brown COM
plexion, have broad faces, prominent lips,
fat noses, full chins, with straight, black hair
and light boards. They are of good size are
well formed, quick in movement, and gener-
ally muscular and strong. They are said to
be very fond Of stimulants, and when oppor-
tunity offers often drink to excess; but they
are rarely quarrelsome even under the in
fuence of liquor They are good natured,
light hearted, careless, indolent, pleasure low
ing people; are improvident thoughtless about
the future, and generous to a fault. They
ara very sympathetic and kind, are capable
of warm friendships and strong attachments
They are gregarious, great takers, and much
given to all social pleasures-music, dancing,
feasting, etc.
Few Of them possess wealth, few are poor
and none are beggars. They are said for
merly to have been extremely Gcentious, nor
are their morals, in this particular, of the
best even now. They love gay colors, and
are much given to decorating themselves with
wreaths and garlands of flowers. Many of
the women are stout, inclining to corpulency,
which is poorly concealed by the dress uni
yersally worn by them, the holoka, a garment
at one time much favored by certain Ameri-
can women, and known as the @Mother Hub
bard" Leprosy prevails, and the govern
ment has established a settlement on the
Island of Molokai, to which all the unfortu-
nate class are banished. The settlement
numbers about 1000 souls.
Nearly all Hawaiians can read and write.
There are good government schools, with free
compulsory education. In the common
schools instruction is given in the native
language, but in the higher grades English is
taught. Under the teachings and influence
of the missionaries large numbers were early
converted to Christianity. They are still
liberal supporters of the gospel The princi-
pal churches are the Congregational, Baptist
and Catholic-Cor. Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette.